While I enjoyed this one as a whole, it fell a little flat for me. I am a mood reader, so this was, more than likely, on me and not on the author.

The Wedding People is a tender, hopeful, and quietly powerful story that celebrates the beauty of unexpected connections and the resilience of the human spirit. Though the plot may unfold predictably, it’s Phoebe’s emotional journey—and the way she touches and is touched by the lives of the strangers she meets—that makes this novel truly special. With rich, heartfelt prose, a cast of endearing characters, and a generous dose of humor and wisdom, this book offers comfort without being saccharine, and poignancy without ever sinking into gloom. Even when the pacing meanders in the middle, the story remains compelling and emotionally resonant. Phoebe’s vulnerability, strength, and quiet courage linger long after the final page, making this a story that doesn’t just entertain—it leaves a mark.

I received an advanced copy of The Wedding People by Alison Espach from the publisher Henry Holt & Co. via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Phoebe Stone has always dreamed of shucking oysters and taking sunset sails with her husband at the grand Cornwall Inn, but things have not been going great, her husband left her and her cat is dead, and she’s at rock bottom. Determined to enjoy one last decadent evening before ending her life, she arrives at the hotel wearing her green dress and gold heels, and is mistaken as a wedding guest. The bride who has accounted for every detail, never accounted for Phoebe and is desperate to stop Phoebe’s plan, starting a strange connection between the two women.

My Thoughts: This book while hyped significantly still surprised me. I can one hundred percent see why this made some people’s top book of the year. First, let’s start with the big trigger warning, the character is at the resort to end her life. This is how it starts and she does attempt it, but do know it is a significant upswing. However, the upswing is not cheesy or unbelievable. The way this book builds connections between strangers and imperfect persons is just so excellent. These characters are so human and just observing this small moment in time is such a fly on the wall of humanity moment. Are these people particularly important? No, but that’s why I love it. I love the idea of all this taking place in a ridiculously extravagant wedding weekend. This book is not perfect, but it does what it sets out to do really well. I thought all the characters and the intimacy that can be attained was captivating and I cannot look away.

Who Should Read It: If you wish you were a Sally Rooney person but she’s a bit too mundane/highbrow for you, this book might be for you.

Summary: A woman on the lowest moment of her life forms unique bonds with the wedding people.

This book is so hyped and I can clearly see why. It was equally funny and emotional. Really loved this book!

This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful. I was genuinely rooting for every single character. I loved Phoebe’s growth and journey so much. I seriously cannot recommend this book enough!!!

I read about this book somewhere, maybe bookstagram, and thought it looked good because I love stories about people. I do want to warn that suicide is a topic in this book, so be aware if that is not something you want to avoid. Phoebe comes to a grand inn on the coast of Rhode Island to finally see the ocean and come to terms with the awful year she’s had. When she gets to the inn, she finds that she is the only person there who is not attending a weeklong wedding celebration. Unexpectedly, Phoebe and the bride befriend each other throughout the week. Though Phoebe had no plans of anything celebratory, she finds herself surrounded by wedding people and activities all week long.

This is a cult favorite but it wasn't for me - I didn't love Phoebe's arc, I didn't love the way her ex shows up. The plot was a little too contrived and unrealistic.

I'd definitely read another Espach novel, but would highly recommend the use of trigger warnings for readers - this was a little assuming.

It felt like Elin Hilderbrand for the high brow crowd.

The Wedding People by Allison Espach is a witty, heartfelt novel about love, loss, and unexpected connections. It follows Phoebe Stone, who shows up at a fancy Newport inn with her own personal mission—only to be mistaken for a wedding guest. What unfolds is a mix of humor, emotional depth, and some truly memorable characters. Espach has a knack for making you laugh one moment and tugging at your heart the next. If you love stories about self-discovery, complicated relationships, and the chaos of weddings, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

The Wedding People was both heart wrenching and delightful. Espach oscillates beautifully between depression, trauma, sorrow, and humor, hope, joy. The characters all felt so real and I wanted them all to win in the end. This is easily one of my all-time favorite books.

I wanted to dislike this novel. I mean a woman planning to end herself on vacation…a vacation she can’t afford so she better enjoy it to her last day. Well a bride who books a hotel room is mad to say the least- but as a new marriage starts, the more an old one is thought about and maybe at a hotel with strangers isn’t the best place to make life ending decision. But then again, maybe surrounded by friends and family at a desolate location is not where you should start a new beginning. So the author brings together these two very different women who are actually looking for the exact same thing, but one is at the beginning and one is at the end and who is right and who makes it to the end of the novel so yes, I ended up liking it even though upon the premise I wanted keyword is wanted to hate it.

I'm in the minority here, but I do not understand all the hype about this book. It took me forever to read and I didn't like that there were really no chapters. It was just an average booking my opinion.

I truly don't know how to properly review this one. It's very unlike what I typically read, and I just don't really know how to express my thoughts on this book properly. I do have to say that this book definitely was a grower for me. At the start I wasn't 100% in just yet. I mean, I was interested in what was being srt up. However, the start really focusses on Phoebe's depression and how she got to the state she's in now. As I mentioned before I did like that part of this book, don't get me wrong, but it just didn't just grip me just yet.
However, there was a certain point within the book, and I can't fully pinpoint when or how, where I just got fully invested in this book. I thought the cast of characters, and mainly Phoebe and Lila, were incredibly interesting to follow. Now are any of them really likeable? No, not at all. Even Phoebe managed to get on my nerves sometimes. She just was extremely judgemental, and the way she just constantly flip flops on people was grating. When it comes to the rest of the cast they all also have at least one major character flaw that ends up being the focus of their character. However, they are still people you can't help but get invested in. The dynamic between Phoebe and Lila is slightly toxic but you just can't help but root for them to figure it out, and just be friends.
Overall, I think this book is about being at a turning point in your life, about hitting rock bottom and settling in something that seems right to be able to get out of it. I thought it was so interesting to see all of these different characters deal with that in their own ways. Of course Phoebe's journey with this is the most prevelant in this all, but it definitely is also very visible in even some minor side characters. Therefore I also just think the place where all of these characters end up in the end can feel very cathertic as they finally let go of what is supposed to make things better for what actually makes them feel better. Especially seeing Phoebe restructure her life, and actively fighting for what is actually good for her.
By the last quarter of this book I just wasn't able to put it down at all because I was just so hooked on this story, and ultimately I just really enjoyed my time reading this book over all. This book was also much funnier than I was expecting before going into it. As mentioned before the themes of this book are technically quite heavy however it just never feels that heavy. I feel like overall this is very funny, and really looked at these kind of societal expectations through a lense that kind of makes it all seem quite ridiculous. Therefore the book overall (after that start that is very focussed on Phoebe's depression) feels very lighthearted in a way. However, it's more heavy themes definitely still hit and aren't undercut by the tone. In fact I would argue it actually fits really well. So yeah, all this rambling to say that I totally understand the hype for this book, even as someone who doesn't typically read books like this.

A pretty heart-felt yet funny story of a single women not intending to make a best friend of the bride at their shared hotel. but through circumstances, they form a nice female friendship bond.

One of the best books of the summer yet I forgot to write this review until now, months beyond when it was published. My apologies

the best case of right book, perfect time right now. wow.
this book seriously could not have come to me at the perfect time - i randomly picked it up and it was so needed. this book was so wonderful as someone who’s struggled with depression for a long time. i adore the fmc phoebe and see myself in her in so many words, she was such a perfectly relatable character to me.!
just beautiful & reflective - makes you really step back and appreciate life and the fact that we really do have the power to live our lives in whichever way we want.

I usually don't like comparing books to each other, but this one really did remind me of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, especially with its discussion of complex topics in a whimsical tone / backdrop. I felt the pace flagged a little in the middle when the bride had yet another meltdown over something inconsequential, but overall, this was a fun and entertaining read with some profound messages hidden among the banter that I really enjoyed!

The premise of this novel was so interesting. What started out as such a dark time in a character’s life where she wanted to end her life turned into a time of celebration and rebirth. I really enjoyed this unique novel. I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a lighthearted easy book to read. I would love to recommend this to anyone who is looking for a beach read. I also love so many of the quotes in the book. Some authors have the most incredible way of storytelling and she is one of them!

What makes The Wedding People stand out is its balance of humor and realism. While weddings are often portrayed as a picture-perfect celebration, this book takes a more authentic approach, exploring the messiness of relationships, the stress of family dynamics, and the beauty of finding connection in unexpected places.

The book was okay. The story was a bit weird to get into in the beginning. There was a lot going on and all of the different wedding people she met were cool. The bride annoyed me a lot and I wish the main character had called her out about it more.

But overall it was a good ending.